A woodland hideout 

Giovanni Costa’s painting, "A woodland hideout," uses oil on canvas to bring a child’s perspective to life. The artist’s technique has directness and immediacy, much like a plein air sketch. The brushstrokes are visible, especially in the rendering of the grass and foliage, adding texture and movement to the scene. This emphasis on materiality reflects a broader shift in the art world towards valuing the artist's process, rather than just the finished product. Costa was associated with the Macchiaioli group of Italian painters, who broke from the academic tradition, instead embracing color and light to capture the essence of a scene. The very application of paint becomes part of the subject. By valuing the handmade gesture, Costa and his contemporaries elevate the act of painting, inviting us to appreciate the labor and skill involved in bringing a landscape to life.